davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
1ue EA1EElIL NlGHI.

On the evening of May 4 about {, 600 people
assembled. The managers placed the wagon
on which the speakers were to stand little
way up Desplaines street from tho Hay
market, by the mouth OF convenient ailey,
and at a point where they could have full
view of the police as the latter advanced
from their Desplaines Street station. Mayor
Carter Harrison was in the crowd and ex-
pressed some surprise at the mildness OF the
first speakers, Spies and Parsons. The crowd
was disappointed, too, and was fast melting
away. when Fielden took his stand in the
wagon. His most intimate English friends
could not have recognized the mild Metho-
d;et exhorter and laborer Of other days. Ills
frenzied defamation excited what remained
Of the crowd, and their applause reacted on
him It was testified at the trial that ne
called for immediate action in these WORDS:
Arm, Arm. Throttle and kill the law!
Then Inspector Bonfield decided to disperse
tho meeting. Seven companies of policemen,
TX TX men. in platoons reaching from curb to
cnrh marched from their station OF ;Des-
nlaines street north to the wagon. AS they
drew near, Fie;den is sworn to have snouSea'
3Here come the bloodhounds; you do your
duty and I'll do mine" -.
Can't. Ward, of the police, called out:
an the name of the people OF the state :. oi
Illinois l command you to peaceaoiy oiS'
perse!" .,o, +ho WAGON ex.
Fielden stepped down from the wagon GA
| claiming:
/ ssWe are peaceablel" .4 A.,
r. wos claimed by the prosecution that the
word s.peaceable" was the signal agreed eal on
NJ, Ir,s dead silence for perhaps ter
seconds, the crowd slowly NOV moving e1 sr,nre ane
the police standing firm, when SILL s.th's. =,
4 azZinp sound was heard near the 'nou'h VI
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
JUST BEFORE THE TRAGEDY.
The evolution of the tragedy was curiously


The evolution of the tragedy was curiously
regular.
First, as has been shown, these men taught
radical Socialism. Next, they organized dis
eontented workingmen to act more efficiently
in strikes The usual trouble arose: "scabs"
took the place of striking worllmcn, they
We're attacked by the strikers, the police were
called on for protection and tho inevitable
question was presented-shall we fight? The
Anarchists, in speech and in The Arbeiter
zeituns, vehemently urged destructive
measures. They exhorted the strikers to
light both the "scabs" and the police, gave
minute instructions how to use nitro lycerine
and manufacture bombs, and had EARNED
sections" of their supporters who drilled
nightly and were instructed in the use of
bombs.
At length it was boldly announced that the
Anarchists had S, 600 armed and well drilled
feVolutionists in Chicago, and it was proved
That they really had 8, 600 at this time, as was
sworn to during the trial. The Arbeiter Eel
tung and Tho Alarm published many such
sentiments as these:
Dagsers and revolvers are easily to be gotten;
hand grenades are cheapiy to be produced
VIII the worlingmen supply themselves with
weapons, dynamite and prussic acid?
The worlingmen ought to take aim at every
member of the militia.
And while tho writer's acted with what
they probably considered caution, tho speak
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
LOUIS 11Neo's LETTER.

To Mr. R. ]. Oglesby, Governor Of Illinois:
Anent TIC fact that the progressive and liberty
loving portien of the American people arc en-
deavcring to prevail upon you to intsrpose your
prcroSative in my case. feel impclied TO do
clare. with my friend and comrade Parsons, thai
demand eth liberty or DEATH II you a1o
really a servant of the people according to tho
constitution Of the country, then you viii, BY
virtue OF your office, Internationally release M
Referring to the general and inalienabla rights
Of men, have called upon the disinherited and
oppressed masses to oppose the force Of their op
pressors-exercised by armed enforcement Of In
famous laws. enacted In the interest Of capital
with force, in order to attain digntGed and
manly existence by securing the full returns Of
their labor. This-and only this-is the crime
which was proven against me, notwithstanding
the employment of perjured testimony ON tho
part of the state. And this crime IL guaranteed
not only as right, but as duty, by Tho AIneEk
can constitution, tho representative Of which jon
are supposed to be in the state OF Illinois
Butt you are are not the Representative Of tho
constitution, like the great majority, Of ofoo
specific political Clique, you will no. encIuach
upon tho thirst for blood displayed by tho e1.
tOttioners, because mere mitigation OF tho ver-
Gict would be cowardico and proof th1t tie
ruling classes. which you represent are shcna-
selves abashed at the manstros!ty OF my Con-
domination, and, consequently, OF their owa vio-
lntion of the most sacred rights OF the pcopla
Your decision tn that event will not only jDdHe
me, but also yourself and those whom you repro
sent. Judge, then LOUIS LIRGo
PS.-In orser to be sure that this letter win
come to your official notice, Twill send you de
original manuscript as q regiEtared Letter.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
FIscHER's LETTER.

Cook COUNTY JAIL, CHICAGO, Nov. !, 1887.
To Mr.. R. ]. Oglesby, Governor Of the State Of
bnAD io'si sng1 am aware that petitions are being
circulated and signed by the general public ask
ing you to commute tho sentence Of death which
state. Anent this action Of sympat athizing and
well meaning portion OF the peop.e, solemnly
declare that it has not my sanction. AS man Of
honor, as @ man of conscience and as man of
principle, cannot acceLk mercy. lam not guilty
Of the charge in the ishictment-of murder. I
tion Of which know am innocent And should
Task "mercyn on account of my principles, which
Honestly believe to be true and nobleY No.
am no hypocrte and have, therefore, no excuses
to offer with regard to being IN Anarchist, be-
cause the experiences of the past eighteen months
question is, Am Irresponsible for the death of the
policemen at the Haymarket? and l say no, un-
less you assert that every Aboltionist could have
been held responsible for the deeds of John
History repeats itself As the powers that be
the progressive tide by exterminating few
"hckers," SO do the ruling class of today imagine
that they can put stop to the movement OF
labor emancipation by hanging q few Of its advo-
Gates. Progress In its victorious march has had
to overcome: many obstacles which seemed in.
the death Of martyrs The obstacles which bar
the road Of progress today seem to be inviucible,
too, but they will be overcome nevertheless.
At all times when the condition Of society has
become such that large portion Of the people
complained of the existing Injustice, the ruling
but have said tnat the discomfort Of the portion
Of the people in question was dee oniy to the
.pernicious inHaence'' of malicious asitators' -
Today, again, some people assert that the did
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
agitators" are the cause Of the immense dissatis-
faction among the worsing people.


faction among the worEing people,
oh, you people who speak thus, can you not. or
will you not read the signs Of the timesi Do you
not see that tho clouds on the social armament
are thicEeningi Are you not, for instance, aware
that the control of industry and Of the means Of
in fewer hands; that the 'monopolists, t. e., thu
sharps among the capitalists, swallow the little
ones among them; that trusts" pools" and
other combinations are being formed in order to
more thoroughly and systematically fleece the
people; that under the present system the de-
velopment OF technic and machine. Y is from year
to year throwing more workmen on the wayside;
majority Of the farmers are obliged to mortgage
their homes in order to satisfy the greed Of mon
Btrous corporations; that, In short, the rich are
constantly growing richer and the poor poorer.
Yes and do you not comprehend thnt all these
evils find their origin in thu present institution OF
society which allows one portion of the human
race to build fortunes upon the msfortunes Of
others-to enslave their fellow men9
Instead of trying to remedy these evils, and in
stead OF ascertaining just what the cause of the
widening dissatisfaction is, the ruling classes,
through their 1nouthpicces-press, pulpit, etc
defame and msrepresent the character, teach
inss and motives of the advocates OF social recon-
struction, and use the riff. and the club on them,
and, II the opportunity is favorable send them to
the gallows and prisons. Will this do any good2
AS an answer may as well quote the following
words with which Benjamin Franklin closed his
satrical essay, Rules for Reducing Great Emu
pire TO Small One, y which he dedicated to the
English government In 177G: Suppose all their
Ghe .liic6ers') complaints to be invented and pro-
you could catch and hang, all would be quiet:
Catch and hang few accordingly and the blood
OF the martyrs Shall work miracles in favor of
your purpose" u. e., your own ruin)
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

The agitation growing out of the attempt
to enforce the eight hour law led directly to
the tragedy. As early rs May, 1881, tho Or
ganized workingmen of Chicago gave notice
that on the lst Of May, 1886, they would in
sist upon the general observance Of tho law.
1t is not necessary to, detail the numerous
strikes and occasional riots of tho following
two years in various sections Of tho country;
suffice it, that each one was eagerly seized
upon by the anarchists as fresh proof that
capital was crushing labor.
On April IS, 1886, the new board of trade
building was formally opened; there was q
somewhat riotous popular demonstration
against it, and Fielden and Parsons addressed
the assemblage in language more inAamma-
tory than ever before. In July, 1885, there
was q general strike Of street cor employees
One riot Mae excited which was only
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
PARSONS.
ENGEL.

Louis L.nsg, who is convicted of having
made the bombs, is but % years old and cannot
speak English. Hc is said to have been expelled
from Germany where he was born, for con-
spiracy.
Michael Schwabi Is native of Mannheim, Ger
many, wes born in 1858 and was educated in q
convent. Coming to America in 1870, he worked
for time ut tho book binders trade. BE became
connected with The Arbeiter Zeitung at the same
time as Spies.
George Engel was born in Cassel, Germany, in
1895, received common school education, learned
the printers trade and came to America in 1874
Aycar later he located in Chicago, where he soon
embraced Socialism and became an Anarchist
he established the Northwest Group" in 1883.
Adolph Fischer is about 90 years of age and is o
Germun. He came to America when lad and
learned the printers trade with his brother, who
published German weekly at Nashville, Tenn.
Later Adolph edited and published The Little
Rock (Ark. Stats Zcituns, which lie sold in 1851.
Then he worked ct his trade in St. Louis and Chi
cago lie sometimes accused Spies and Schwab
of being too mild, and at one time established
Der Anarchist, a paper intended to supplant The
Arbeiter Zetung.
Oscar Neebe, who received a sentence of fifteen
years in the state prison, Is also middle aged
German.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

reached when 733, ,992 Europeans landed IN
the United States. immigration from Eng
lind had declined and that from Ireland
fallen to minimum; but from southern
Germany there was an immense increase,
while eastern Europe sent Poles, Bohemians,
Russians, Hungarians and their congeners BY
tens of thousands. In many of these people
hatred of government had become heredi-
tary sentiment Chicago became headquar-
,crs or the discontented, and The Arbeiter
zeitung workers JournaD their organ. Then
sprung up in that city the International
Morkingmen's association. The platform or
declaration of principles of this organization,
as was testified to at the trial, urged that
'the present system under which property is
owned by individuals shou]dsbe destroyed,
and that all capital which has been produced
by labor should be transformed into COM
mon property" The association was divi-
ded into "groups," of which there were
eighty in the United States in March, 1885,
located principally in the cities of industry.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
GEORGE ErarL's LETTER

Deer sir-1, George Engel, citizen Of tho United
States and Of Chicago, and condemned TO death,
the highest executive officer Of the state Of ill
nos. to commute my sentence Of death to i'm
p;isonlaent. Iprotest etnphat;cally against this
] am not aware Of having violated any laws Of
this country. In my firm belief in the constitu-
tion which the founders Of this republic be.
quccthcd to ti,is people, and which remains uu-
altered, have exercised the right of free speech.
free press, FREQ thought md free assenblage, ns
guaranteed by the constitution, and have criti-
corcd my fellow citizens with my advice which
regard as the right Of every honest citizen. The
experience which have had in this country, dur
In; the fifteen years that have lived here, con.
corning the ballot and the administration Of our
public functionares who have become totally cor
equal rights ofp and rich and the action of the
public os:icers police and militia have produced
the firm belief III that these conditions cannot
have taught and advised. This have done in
good faith of TIE rights which are guaranteed by
the constitution, and, not being conscious Of my
guilt, the powers that be" may murder me. but
they cannot legally punish me. protest against
Communication Of my sentence, and demand
either liberty or death, Irenopnce any Kind OF
mercy. Respectfully, GEORGE EEeEL.
SPIES DEFENSE.
The defense of August Spies may be found
in many sentences Of his letters to Miss Van
Zandt ana others, and in his biography and
his notable address to the court before SEN
tence was pronounced. In the latter he said,
among other things:
your honor, speak as the representative Of
one class the representative of another. will
| begin with the words uttered by the Venetian
dogc Fa!ieri to the council Of ten: My defense is
your accusation; the causes of my alleged crime
your history" A little later he says: "The con.
| tcnplated murder Of eight men, whose only
crime is that they have dared to speai. the truth,
wake them up Indeed. ] have noticed that ou:
conviction has worked miracles in this direction
already
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
ARREsT-TRIAL-coNVICTlON.

On the day after the tragedy the police de-
sccnded Oh every known Anarchist resort in
Chicago and arrested every suspected man;
before morning many had been dragged from
their beds Every one in Tho Arbeiter
Zei5ung Office was arrested: August Spies,
editor in chief; Christ Spies, his brother;
Michael Schwab, associate c:litor; Mrs. Eiz-
abeth May Holmes, editorial contributor;
eighteen printers, two reporters and two
messcngcrs. Rudolph Schnanbelt. who, it
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

in 1857, enlisted in
the Twelfth Illinois
at the outbreak Of
tho war, and served
till the last Confed-
crate had laid down
his arms. He went in
as o corporal end
came out a captain.
July 0, 1867, hs was
first enrolled MS q po-
liccman, mud in Oc-
tober, 1855, he was at
the head Of the force.
In the army he was
100 days under fro
In hattie or st,irmiSh.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
messengers.

was a afterwnrd
claimed, throw tho
bomb, was among
those arrested, but
the evidence
against him was
not deemed sum-
cicnt to hold him
and he was re-.
leased. Ho irnme-
diately left Ameri-
"a and is now sup
posed to be in Ger
many. Adolp h
Fischer was one Of
theprinters, and on
bis person when ar
coe+oxl ,r,,,.o fo,,,,I
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

44-caiber revolver and peculiar Snife
made from fat file. All were released nf-
ter the inquest except Schweb, Fischer and
August Spies. Tho condemned and some
others wero held without bail. May II, the
grand jury met and listened to q charge by
the late Judge Rogers; on the eth they
handed in indictments against the men since
condemned and Anton Hirschburger and
John APPEL besides. On making up his case
the prosecutor nollied tho indictments
against the lest two, the evidence being in-
sufficient. On the 2lst of June the trial be-
gan before Judge Gary. Three weeks and
three days were consumed in making up
Jury; 1881 talesmen were examined, both
sides exhausting every power the law gave
therl The names Of the jury were as fol-
lows:
Frank S. Osborne, foreman; james H. Cole,
Scott G. Randall Theodore F. Denker, Charles B.
Todd, Andrew Hamilton, Charles A. Ludwig,
James H Brayton, Alanson II. Reed, John B.
Grenicr, George w. Adams, Howard 7. Sanford
The trial lasted from July 15 to Aug. 20 in
elusive and attracted the attention of the
civilized world-scarcely more by the impor-
tance Of tho issues than by tho abilities Of
the counsel. On behalf of the state appeared
States Attorney Julius S. Grinnell, assisted
| by Iessrs Frank Walker, Edmund Furth-
man and George c. Ingham; for the accused,
Capt w. p. Black, Moses Salonon, w. A.
Foster and Sigmund Zeisler. The jury
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

retired at 80 p. M, and at 10 a. m. next
day, Aug. 20, returned verdict of guilty
nraiust all the defendants, with sentence OF
fifteen years in the penitentiary for Oscar
Neebe, and death for the ether seven
Tho trial began and ended with sensations
On the fist day A. r. Parsons, who E:ti
escaped ard been in hiding, walked into liz
courtroom, announced his voluntary sur
render and took his place in the dock with
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

e1ts used Language
of q very infan-
matory character.
Still, though ono Of
the Chicago papers
had predicted seri-
Gus trouble, the
meetings were not
suppre ssed. But
Freder rick Eber-
sold, superintend-
. ent, and John Bon. .
field, inspector OF
police, were well
o,,,o-o of tl,a extent
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
POLICE VICTIMS.

two miles and t'cel, prolonged roar, echoing
from the buildi 5: then appalling screams
and volley OF pistol shots. The smoke
lifted, and tho ground appeared covered with
slain-but only for an instant. Two whole
companies of police had been thrown to the
ground, Of whom one, Matthias j. Degan,
was instantly killed, six mortally wounded
and sixty others hurt in various degrees.
But the police rallied at once and with the
frmness and steadiness Of veterans, they
sprang forward, emptying their revolvers
into the flying crowd as they went, and fol-
lowing their shots with their clubs they
cleared tho street in less than three minutes
Of all save the dead and wounded. From
alley, gutter and hallway came deep groans
and curses.
Is is estimated that twenty OF the crowd
were killed and about $50 wounded. An An
archist named Eistler was killed: by the
bomb. Besides Officer Degan, killed outright,
the policemen who died Of their wounds were
J. J. Barrett, George Miller, Timothy Flani-
han, Michael Sheehan, Thomas Reddin and
Neil Hansen. After the dispersion of tho
| mob came the saddest scenes Of tho occasion.
The dead and wounded policemen were rap
idly conveyed to the station, tho latter made
as comfortable IS possible and surgeons
called; but not before their wives and near
relatives hurried there, for bad news flies
fast. Tho tears of some, the sobs and loud
cries OF others, tho groaus, tho gashes, the
blood and mangled bodies-all these formed
n scene to wiring tho hearts of the pitiful.
Within few weeks Chicago had contributed
$4,000 for the caro- of tho wounded police
and tho relief of their families and those of
the dead
The bomb used is said to have been Of the
same pattern used to lill the czar of Russia,
and is very well shown in the initial letter
cut of this account It was 1nas!o Of compo-
| sition metal cups fastened together nearly in
/ tho form, of a cl,l,oro ,stl, a holt and r11t,
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

his friends At the close, when asked by the
court If they had aught to say why sentence
of death should not bo pronounced, they all
made long addresses, those Of Parsons and
Fielden being the best. That of Spies con-
sisted of pleading and defiance, reasoning on
liberty and quotations from Scripture In
tho course of his remarks he spoke Of Christ
as Socialist. Schwab and Neebo gave ar
guments against tho regularity Of tho trial.
Fielden excited sonle astonishnent by say
ing: "The great Socialist, Jesus Cirist, said
1900 years ago: Better that ninety-nine
guilty men should so unpunished than that
one innocent man should suffer- Judge
Gary than sentenced the seven men to be
hanged.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
THE ANARCHISTS, SIDE.

Perhaps the best possible summary Of the
Anarchists defense of their action and their
belief is found in the letters addressed by the
condemned to Governor Oglesby, of Illinois,
extracts from which are given:
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.

that it has no jurisdiction, as tho questions
as to violating the national constitution wero
not raised or argued in the Illinois court
Therefore, writ Of error could not issue.
OF the various appeals and petitions and
meetings protesting against the execution of
Tho Anarchists VIC have not room to speak at
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

in many cities by reason of her speeches in
his behalf. Mrs. Schnaubelt, mother of the
alleged bomb thrower, and Mrs Schwab, her
daughter, were recently brought into special
prominence by reason of the elder iady's visit
to America and the rumor that she had
brought with her full statement of the
facts in the case from her son. Spies, Fielden
and schwab finally signed petitions for
Communication ALI these things Gun only
be alluded to here. Among other cuts we
give portrait of Sheriff Matson, of Cook
county, Ills, who, by virtue Of his Office, has
charge of all executions in Chicago.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

..sscoR ] BoAhtgof the ,'. aiSeontens .,so 1naat
elabssate preparations to meet the outbreak
When it should come.
Capt, John Bonfcld, who assumed the respon.
s'hility tie night Of the tragedy, as on the eay
OF the previous riot, was born in 1896 IN New
Brunswick, his father being County Clare Irish
'Aaa lately arrived in that province. In 1b44 inc
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

family moved to Chicago, where John learner
the trade of machinist and aftcrward became n
locomotive engineer. In 1877 he became a police
man and rose rapidly In rank.
Superintendent of Police Frederick j. Ebersold
was born,in Bavaria In l841, emigrated to Illinois
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-11-18

SO say society may hang number Of disci.
pies of progress who have disintereste7ly served
TIC of the sons OF toll, which is tho cause
of Immunity, but their blood will work miracles
il bringing about the downfall of modern society
and in Fastening the birth Of q new era Of civil
cation.
magma est veritas ct prevalebet